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Citizens of Rochester. King and council. The citizens of Rochester, who hold their...

Catalogue reference: SC 8/69/3419

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This record is about the Citizens of Rochester. King and council. The citizens of Rochester, who hold their... dating from [c. 1359] in the series Special Collections: Ancient Petitions. It is held at The National Archives, Kew.

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Full description and record details

Reference
SC 8/69/3419
Date
[c. 1359]
Description
Petitioners
Citizens of Rochester.
Addressees
King and council.
Nature of request
The citizens of Rochester, who hold their city at fee farm for £12 annually, complain about a new increase of this farm by 10 marks, against reason and the tenor of their charter. They request such a remedy that they might not be ruined by outrageous charges, as they are so impoverished that they find it hard to pay even the old farm.
Nature of endorsement
They are to have a writ based on their charter, to discharge them from all demands made of them beyond the ancient farm that they used to pay by virtue of their charter.
Places mentioned
Rochester, [Kent].
Note
Dated on the guard to c.1359, with reference to CFR 1356-69 p.97 (which mentions the 10 mark increase in the city fee farm) and CFR 1347-56 p.401 (which does not). Despite the endorsement, it would appear that the increase in the farm was not repealed: Rot. Parl. vol. II, p.349b, from the parliament of 1376, mentions it, stating that it was introduced by John de Sheppey, Bishop of Rochester (1352-1360).
Held by
The National Archives, Kew
Former department reference
Parliamentary Petition 6869
Legal status
Public Record(s)
Language
French
Closure status
Open Document, Open Description
Publication note(s)
  • Calendar of Fine Rolls, vol. VI, Edw III, 1347-1356, (Public Record Office, 1922), p.401 (commitment at farm of the city and castle of Rochester to Geoffrey de Say, paying £12 annually for the city)
  • Calendar of Fine Rolls, vol. VII, Edw III, 1356-1368, (Public Record Office, 1923), p.97 (commitment at farm of the city and castle of Rochester to John de Gray of Codnor, paying £12 annually for the city, plus 10 marks of increment)
  • Rotuli Parliamentorum; ut et Petitiones, et Placita in Parliamento, vol. II, Edw III, (Record Commission, 1783), p.349b (enrolment on parliament roll of a later petition from the same petitioners, complaining about their excessive financial burdens)
Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C9107190/

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Series information

SC 8

Special Collections: Ancient Petitions

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Special Collections: Ancient Petitions

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Citizens of Rochester. King and council. The citizens of Rochester, who hold their...

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